The National Council of Churches in India, meeting as a General Body in Chennai on August 12, 2016, strongly condemned the growing atrocities against dalits in India:

National Council of Churches in India expresses its grave concern over the vehement hate campaigns and brutal attacks on Dalits in different parts of India. We condemn the perpetrators, cow vigilante groups and the right wing fundamentalists who take the law in their hands and torment the Dalits in our country. Serious cognizance must be taken of the hate campaigns manifesting in their most recent forms such as the activities of ‘Cow-killers’ and restrictions sought to be imposed on ‘Cow-meat-eaters’. This is an extreme form of modern-day practice of untouchability and discrimination.

We appeal to the Central and State Governments to ensure justice for Dalits without bias by maintaining the appropriate Law and Order to protect the vulnerable communities who are victimised in such hate campaigns.

We are informed by the media that, the perpetrators are booked under public nuisance charges instead of taking legal action under SC&ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Therefore, we urge the state governments to apply the SC&ST Prevention of Atrocities Act rightfully against the perpetrators in order to safeguard the constitutional rights that affirm life ‘OF’ all and life ‘FOR’ all.